St. Charles Woman Sentenced on Fraud Charges

St. Charles Woman Sentenced on Fraud Charges

ST. LOUIS, MO—Daniela Spiridon was sentenced to 78 months in prison involving a real estate scheme related to the purchase or sale of properties.In addition to the prison sentence, she was also ordered to pay $2,499,988 restitution and a fine of $5,000.

According to court documents, Spiridon was affiliated with several businesses from an office in Chesterfield, Missouri, which included A & AD Investments, LLC; CDRS ESC Investments; Sentrix Loan Production Office, and others. As part of the scheme Spiridon fraudulently offered to assist buyers in the purchases of properties that were acquired by lenders through foreclosure and held in inventory, known as Real Estate Owned (REO) properties. She offered to broker purchases or arrange for financing related to the purchase or sale of the REO properties. She had potential buyers place deposits on the properties, which she was to put into an escrow account, but she actually put the monies in a non-escrow account in one of her own companies. She often used buyers’ funds for personal expenses and to reimburse other buyers who demanded their funds be returned rather than to secure real property or financing.

Spiridon, 43, St. Charles, MO, pled guilty last September to six felony counts of wire fraud, and appeared today for sentencing before United States District Judge John A. Ross.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Postal Inspection Service, and Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Livergood is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.